The Imperceptible Conflict

Sandon turned back to the priest, sensing he had now reached the final stage of his transition. The priest waved his arms feebly; soft, incoherent muttered whispers passing from his lips. In that final moment, the priest sensed the coldness in his followers standing around him― a coldness he had instilled into them as his disciples. A final summary of his life fleeted before him, as his spirit broke free from his physical body. Briefly confused, he stood gazing at the morbid scene in the gloomy chamber, as his devoted followers began filing out through the door, making no attempt to tend to his physical body. He wondered; was he alone, now? Was this all there was for a devoted life spent worshiping the gods? There had still been no response from the mental pleas he had sent out to them― why had they forsaken him? Had he failed the plan of his life? There was no Infinite One chastising him for the deeds he had committed. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as a dark figure began to materialise before him― at last, he thought, a response. As he looked up, his eyes met a cold, unrepentant stare from a bearded being whose presence raised fear in him. The being’s face gradually broke into a hideous grin. “You have done well..., Priest.” The chilling voice drifted into his mind. The statement plunged the priest into confusion, wondering if the plan he had followed on Crellow had been the right one― it was suddenly feeling alien to him. The being smiled assiduously. “Oh, indeed, you have exceeded our expectations..., Priest.” The stress the being was constantly placing on the word ‘priest’ unnerved him, as the being directed him to a large group gathering beyond the chamber door. “Come, Priest, let us see the fruits of your labours while you lived out your life on Crellow.” The statement hinted to the priest that his passing was not going to conclude in any celebration of his life there. Sensing an unrelenting compulsion that forced him on, he found himself being led towards the gathering. As he and the being approached, the gathering turned and faced them; the priest, staring inanimate at all the souls he had sacrificed in the name of his phantom gods. Standing silently, they smiled back, emanating their feelings of forgiveness towards him as they gradually disappeared. The being stared at him coldly, the smile slowly fading from his face. “Those feeble-hearted miscreants forgive you, do they...” The being continued to stare at him. “How touching...,” he muttered sarcastically. The priest bowed his head, contemplating his Celestial legacy...